Rivers: IGP Succumbs To Pressure, Unseals LGAs, Orders Withdrawal Of Police Personnel

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Not a few people say this withdrawal could be a Greek  gift to allow those opposed to the election to mobilise and invade the Local Councils’ Headquarters in the absence of Police presence

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate unsealing of Local Council  Secretariats  in Rivers State by  Police Operatives.

Following the successful conduct of the State’s Local Government Polls on Saturday October 5, 2024, and the subsequent swearing-in of elected officials, the IGP has directed that policemen posted to secure the facilities be withdrawn.

The Source reports that the Police authorities had on July 19 , in the wake of the appointments of Caretaker Committee Council officials by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, ordered the barricading of the headquarters of the state’s 23 Local Governments.

The appointments of the Caretaker Committee Officials followed the expiry of the three year tenure of the Nyesom Wike installed Council Leaders on July 18,2024.

Efforts by the pro-Wike State Lawmakers, led by factional Speaker, Martin Amaewhule to elongate their tenure ,were thwarted by a Court ruling which held that it was illegal and unconstitutional for elected officials under the 1999 Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution as amended to have their tenures extended .

The Police had cited the need to prevent the breakdown of law and order, as well as the protection of lives and properties as reasons for  sealing the Council Secretariats .

The development forced the appointed Council officials to operate from unorthodox and informal  locations as directed by Governor Fubara .

However, democratically elected Chairmen and Councilors were on Sunday October 6, sworn -in. Governor Bala Muhammad of Bauchi state, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP Governors Forum among other dignitaries were present.

Instructively, owing to the festering battle for the control of the soul of the PDP between forces loyal to Wike and Governor Fubara the party did not participate in the crucial council polls .

But the adopted party of Governor Fubara’s supporters, the Action Peoples Party, APP, swept the polls at which the Action Alliance, AA, won the Etche Council Chairmanship position.

In a statement issued early Monday morning October 7, 2024, by the Rivers state Police  Command spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko, the Service said that operatives will only be redeployed to the Council headquarters in the event of any crisis and or breakdown of law and order.

“In view of the recent political developments in Rivers State, the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, CP Bala Mustapha, hereby conveys the directives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, for the immediate withdrawal of Police Personnel previously deployed to seal and safeguard the Local Government Secretariats in the State.

“The decision is in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions

“Consequently, the IGP has ordered the unsealing of the Local Government Secretariats which were earlier secured by the police personnel.

The Police will only be redeployed to these locations in the event of crisis or breakdown of law and order in which case emergency measures will be swiftly implemented to restore normalcy”, part of the police statement reads.

However, a number of people, say given the benefit of hindsight, the unsealing could be a Greek gift. They point out that it could be a ploy to, allegedly, allow the pro-Wike group to invite the Council Headquarters. Already, the rumours is strong that the Group is, allegedly, mobilising youths and other supporters to invade and block the Council Headquarters as from Monday or Tuesday.